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Feb. 29, 2008 Solid Waste District Announces Earth Day Poster, Trash Art Contest For 2008The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District is once again sponsoring its annual poster and trash art contest, announced Ozark Rivers Chairman Scott Murrell. This year’s theme is “Recycling: Think Tomorrow Today.” This is the sixteenth year that Ozark Rivers has sponsored the contest. Students attending public and private schools in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski or Washington counties are eligible to participate. Home-schooled students in the seven-county area are also encouraged to participate. “The poster contest has always been well received, and this year, we wanted to announce the theme and deadline extra early so teachers could better work the contest into their classroom curriculum. ” said Tammy Snodgrass, environmental programs manager for Meramec Regional Planning Commission. MRPC serves as administrator for the Ozark Rivers District. Teri Smith, MRPC community development specialist, is coordinating the contests on behalf of the district. Contest information has been distributed to all schools in the seven-county. Deadline for entries is March 28, 2008. The poster contest is open to all K-12 students and should focus on the beneficial long-term results of recycling, ways to protect and enhance the environmental and how our actions today impact our planet and future. Trash art projects do not have to adhere to the theme but should convey an Earth Day-type message. Posters and trash art entries will be judged separately, and students can participate in both the poster and trash art contest, if they choose. First place prizes are $50 U.S. savings bonds; second place prizes will be earth friendly gifts valued at $15 or more. Every student that participates will receive a small prize. These poster and trash art contests are a part of the district's effort to increase awareness of the solid waste problem and to generate interest in reducing the amount of waste deposited in area landfills. Education and awareness are key components of the district's solid waste management plan. "We encourage teachers to use this project as an opportunity to discuss solid waste problems, like illegal dumping, and the benefits of recycling as well as the meaning of Earth Day," Snodgrass said. Teachers can contact Snodgrass for curriculum and research ideas to use in the classroom. The Ozark Rivers District has books and videos and other learning aids available for checkout to teachers and home-schoolers. Once again, area banks were asked to co-sponsor this year's contest by providing savings bonds. Snodgrass and Smith thanked those banks who have partnered on the contest. Those providing savings bonds or cash include Bank of Iberia, Community Bank of Owensville, First State Community Bank of Missouri, Bay-Hermann-Berger Bank, Bank of Crocker, Community Bank of Dixon, Central Federal Savings and Loan, Town and Country Bank, Peoples Savings Bank of Rhineland, Bank of Salem, The Maries County Bank, Bank of Sullivan, Legends Bank of Owensville, Citizens Bank of Newburg, Legends Bank of Linn, Legends Bank of Belle and First Bank of Hermann. Contest winners will be notified the week of April 14, and the winning works will be part of an exhibit on the Missouri University Science and Technology campus during MS&T's Earth Day celebration on April 22. The contest flyer is available on the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org. Persons needing more information should contact Snodgrass or Smith at (573) 265-2993 or by email at tsnodgrass at meramecregion.org or press at meramecregion.org. |